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Report: Mother tried to kill herself day after birthI )ena Schlosser is accused of severingher 10-month-old haby’s armsTHE ASSOCIATED PRESSDALUS A mother who admitted killing her 10-month-old daughter by cutting off her arms tried to commit suicide the day after giving birth to the child at home, according to a newspaper .report citing medical records,The Dallas Morning News reported in Thursday editions that medical records it obtained showedDena Schlosser, 35, cut her wrist Jan, Ml and was treated at an. emergency room in Collin County.Schlosser, a 35-year-old housewife with a history of mental illness, was charged with capital murder Nov, 22 after she told a 94-1 operator that she had severed baby Margaret's arms. Police and paramedics found Schlosser in her living room, covered in blood and still holding a knifeFive days after Schlosser’s third daughter was born in January, police and paramedics were called to the home after Schlosser was seen running down the street “yelling at the top of her lungs” because she said there was a “spirit in the apartment, the newspaper said records showed.Doctors at three hospitals determined over the next 24 hours that she was psychotic or suffering from psychosis in addition to postpartum depression, the records showed. The newspaper identified the hospitals as Medical City of Dallas, Medical Center of Plant) and Green Oaks.One physician said that Schlosser had delusional thoughts but denied “suicidal intent”One medical report said thatSchlosser’s husband, John, felt thebest place for his wife was at home and said that “Dena's spiritual church vocabulary’ may be mixed up ... and she will be perceived as‘being crazy'«. says we may 'Contact their church about any aberrant beliefs and does not want their religious beliefs to be confused ... with ‘psychosis.’ *Marissa Gonzales, a spokeswoman for the state Children Protective Services agency, declined to comment when asked by the Dallas Morning News if CPS knew of the suicide attempt or the diagnosis of psychosis. She citedprosecutors’ request for a gag order to prevent comment on child custody issues involved in the case.She said the agency would know about information documented in medical records.CPS investigated Schlosser afterthe January incident when she ran from the apartment, leaving her infant alone. It closed the case in August after Schlosser received psychiatric treatment for postpartum depression and the agency determined she was stable.The ScWossers’ two other daughters are in CPS’ temporary custody. Their father has said through his attorney that he wants his children returned to him. He has declined comment.David Haynes, Dena Schlosser’s attorney, said that though he has not seen all of her medical records, he thinks doctors’ diagnoses in January support his belief that she is not competent to assist him with her defense. Psychiatrist David Self has been appointed by the court to examine Schlosser.Clearly, in January, she was psychotic. If, as we expect, we’re going: to get a report from. Dr. Self that she is presently psychotic in December 2004 ... what reason is there to believe she changed in the intervening period?” Haynes saidWednesday.MarissaGonzales, a spokeswoman forthe stateChildrenProtectiveServices agency, declined to comment when asked by theDallasMorningNews if CPS knew of thesuicideattempt orthediagnosis of psychosis.
Newspaper Details
Odessa American
Odessa, Texas, US
Thu, Dec 23, 2004
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Jared T.
NA, NA 30 May 2023
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